Akhilesh as CM makes sense, but challenges galore

Akhilesh Yadav, the youngest chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, represents the change the state needs today. But he will have to handle difficult and complex challenges to consolidate the Samajwadi Party's gains, writes rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.

Akhilesh Yadav has created history in a manner that may make Rahul Gandhi and other young aspiring leaders of India envious.

There are many reasons why Akhilesh, who is three years younger than Rahul and has three kids, has been named chief minister of the amazing state of Uttar Pradesh.

First and foremost is the talk of early Lok Sabha elections.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is giving up his chair for his son because he has prime ministerial ambitions. He wants to get fit, as his memory fails at times.

Also, the prevailing mood of the voters of UP suggests that Akhilesh is the desired choice.

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Uttar Pradesh needs a younger leader to rule. That's because the election campaign has shown that the youth of UP is bustling with energy and aspirations.

Akhilesh is in a better position to respond to the younger UP than any other Samajwadi Party leader who has won the mandate.

Akhilesh's biggest achievement was not what he did during the election campaign but what he did not do.

He did not make any political mistakes during the election campaign.

Unlike Rahul Gandhi, he started low key and didn't raise his voice. He peaked at right time unlike the Congress whose campaign reached climax before its time.

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But Akhilesh's hard work is just not enough to make him eligible for the most powerful chair in India after the post of prime minister.

One should not make any mistake in understanding that in Lucknow a not-so-democratic dynastic rule is being imposed on people after one of the most democratic elections ever held in the state.

Sadhna Yadav, step mother of Akhilesh and Mulyam Singh Yadav's second wife, SP's muslim face Azam Khan and Akhilesh's uncle Shivpal Yadav had strong reservation against Akhilesh's coronation to the top post.

Akhilesh's mother Malti Yadav died a decade back. Sadhna has been in Mulayam's life since 1988, but Mulayam acknowledged her as wife only in 2006 when he was forced to do so in the case related to disproportionate assets against them in the Supreme Court. Akhilesh and his step-brother Prateek, who recently got married, are not on best terms.

Now with Akhilesh getting the best of the legacy from his father, the Yadav family's internal feud will affect the party's functioning.

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Akhilesh is the chief of the party, but will face difficult and complex challenges to consolidate the gains of SP by making it relevant under his leadership, too.

It will be interesting to watch how Akhilesh handles the governance of the most difficult state of India, the internal dynamics of the family politics and the management and control of the party which has many rowdy elements in it. 

Akhilesh will also have to handle the conflicting business interests of corporate bosses like Reliance's Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Sahara's Subroto Roy, Jaypee's Jaiprakash Gaur and many other rich and powerful business houses in the state, which is on an upward curve of the economy. 

May be, on second thought, one would say Akhilesh's job is not really envious!